Shoulder protector and garment strap holder



March 18, 1952 J. 'M. WARD ET AL 2,589,755

SHOULDER PROTECTOR AND GARMENT STRAP HOLDER Filed April 30, 1948 ATTORIVEYS Patented Mar. 18, 1952 SHOULDER PROTECTOR AND GARMENT STRAP HOLDER Juanita M. Ward, Marion, and Cecil A. Sutphin, J onesboro, Ind.

Application April 30, 19.48, Serial No. 24,278

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to devices for protecting the shoulders against chafing or cutting by the straps supporting garments, such as the undergarments worn by women. As is well known, women habitually wear one or more under gar ments which are supported by shoulder straps. Such straps frequently chafe the skin and/or cut into the same to the discomfort of the wearer. Moreover, such straps frequently become misaligned and/or slip off of the shoulders of the wearer.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of our invention to provide improved'means for protecting the shoulders against chafing or cutting, and which means likewise provides a holder for one or more shoulder straps.

A further object is to provide such a device which comprises a sheet of flexible material adapted to be supported on the shoulders of a wearer and retained thereon by the engagement of shoulder straps therewith.

A further object is to provide such a device as that described which includes means integral therewith for preventing the displacement of the shoulder straps therefrom.

A further object is to provide in a device such as that last described an under surface incorporating a covering of soft anti-chafing material and/or material having absorbent properties.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, of, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view showing a device according to the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one form of the invention;

Figure 3 is an elevational view thereof;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Figure '7, is an elevational view of the modificacation;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view I taken substantially on the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring speciii 'zall; to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, and referring at first to the form of invention disclosed in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, l0 designates generally a device according to the invention which preferably comprises a strip 1 l of any suitable flexible material. Such material may comprise a thin sheet of semi-rigid plastic which includes a certain amount of resiliency. The side edges of the strip H are tapered at the ends, as at l2, and such side edges are upwardly and inwardly directed to provide terminal edges l3 located in upwardly spaced relation to the upper surface of the strip, and joined to the side edges of the strip II by inwardly curved flanges l5. As shown in Figure 5, the outer surfaces of the edges I3 and of the flanges l5 merge into the undersurface of the strip ll, whereby to present smooth'surfaces to the skin of the wearer and prevent the chafing of the skin. The upwardlydirected channel defined by the flanges I5 and edges [3 is substantially wider than a garment strap, such as that illustrated at I6, Figures 1 and 8, whereby to present a relatively broad supporting surface and prevent cutting of the skin by pressure from the straps 16. Likewise, such relatively broad channel permits a certain amount of side play of the straps l6 therein which is incident to the normal movements ofthe garment in response to normal actions of the wearer. Preferably, the upper surface of the strip ll is highly polished, whereby to permit such side and endwise play of the strap in the channel without unduly chafing or wearing the strap. The under surface of the strip H is provided with a ply of anti-chafing material which may likewise be an absorbent material whereby to absorb perspiration or the like. Such ply l4 may well be of textile material and may be incorporated in the strip 1 5 during the manufacture thereof by being molded therein at the time the strip is formed. Obviously, such ply i i could be secured in place by any other well known means, such as being secured thereto by adhesive.

In the form of invention just described, the strip l l is understood to be sufficiently flexible as to be curved to conform to the contours of the shoulders by the normal pressure of the straps 16. Likewise, the upwardly-directed channel is relatively shallow whereby to provide a device which is substantially but little thicker than the normal thickness of the straps themselves.

Referring now to the form of invention of Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, 2B designates generally a device according to the invention which scribed hereinabove claimed.

3. may conform substantially to that shown in the first-described form, but which is preferably formed of material slightly less flexible than that providing the strip ll. Likewise, the device 20 is curved to conform substantially to the shoulders of the wearer, whereby substantially little or no curving is necessary to provide a smooth form fit with the shoulders. As in the first-described form of the invention, the device 20 comprises a strip 2| of flexible sheet material and which material is preferablylformed of a suitable plastic. The strip 2! is provided with side edges reduced at the ends, as at 22, andupwardly and inwardly directed on a curve corresponding to the curve 15 to provide inwardly-directed flanges 23. Such flanges 23 overlie the upper surface of the strip 2| and function as in the first-described form of the invention.

the invention.

While we have shown and described what is our invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of still other forms and expressions. Consequently, we do not limit ourselves to the precise structures shown and deexcept as hereinafter We claim: Ina shoulder strap holder, a strip of semi- Likewise, inthis .form ,of the invention, the under surface "of the strip 2| is formed with a ply of antilchaflng material 24 which may likewise be a now thought to be preferred embodiments of rigid, non-metallic flexible sheet material designed to rest with its underside upon the shoulder of a wearer, upwardly and laterally inwardrelation to the upper side of the strip and providing a channel for reception of a shoulder strap, said' 'strip being curved longitudinally throughout its length in a vertical plane to conform to the downward curvatures of the shoulder of a wearer.

JUANITA M. WARD. CECIL A. SUTPHIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of. record in the .flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 414,916 Nelson Nov. 12, 1889 447,464 Heyder Mar. 3, 1891 978,821 Brown et al Dec. 13, 1910 1,631,694 Rick June 7, 1927 1,717,933 Morin et a1 June 18, 1929 2,485,720 Elliott et al Oct. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,318 Great Britain 1893 

